Range burner



Patented Feb. 25, 1935 ATENT OFFICE RANGE BURNER Application December 20, 1929, Serial No. 415,470

14 Claims.

This invention relates to burners of the type supplied with oil or other hydrocarbon fuel in liquid form, the oil being vaporized within the burner and then burned with a suitable mixture of air. These burners are commonly provided with one or more combustion chambers having perforated tubular walls through which air enters to mix with fuel vapor ascending from a fuel space, the latter in the form of a fuel groove or trough at the bottom of the chamber, the mixture being burned in the combustion chamber and a blue flame issuing from the open upper end thereof.

In starting a burner of this type. from a cold condition it is customary preliminarily to heat the burner walls and base before finally turning on the full continuing supply of liquid fuel so that some vaporization of the liquid fuel will take place when it reaches the fuel space.

One common method of effecting such preliminary heating is to provide the fuel groove or trough with an asbestos or other wick which is first saturated with oil or other priming fluid and then lighted by a taper. After a short in.- terval, when the temperature of the adjoining walls of the burner is suflicient to cause a vaporization of a portion of the liquid fuel reaching the fuel groove, the liquid fuel supply is turned on. As the temperature gradually rises, the walls of the fuel groove and adjoining fuel passages become more highly heated and an increasingly greater proportion of the. fuel reaches the fuel groove in vaporized form, and fl nally, after the lapse of a substantial interval, the fuel reaching the fuel space or spaces is completely vaporized and an intensely hot blue flame results.

The time required for the preliminary heating and before the burner can be brought up to its full heating capacity, which may be termed the starting interval, has heretofore been quite substantial, due in large part to the fact that in the initial stages of starting a substantial part. of the oil reaches the fuel groove in liquid form, retardin complete combustion and causing the rise in temperature required for complete vaporization to take place very gradually. The Oil which reaches the fuel groove or grooves in liquid form also tends to incomplete combustion, leaving deposits of unconsume'd carbon which, in the course of time, build up and clog the fuel grooves and connecting ducts, passages and pipes.

One object of the present invention is to substantially reduce the time required for starting, there being provided such an arrangement for fuel delivery to the fuel space that the heated walls of the burner, and particularly during the starting interval, will be most fully effective to vaporize the. fuel on its delivery to the burner and before reaching the fuel groove. Accordingly, even during the early part of the starting interval, a greater proportion of the fuel in vaporized form and a lesser proportion in liquid form reach the fuel groove, so that the proportion of fuel vaporized and the intensity of the flame increase at a more rapid rate than has i heretofore been possible, and the time within which full vaporization is had and the full capacity of the burner reached is materially shortened.

Since this materially reduces the amount of liquid fuel which reaches. the fuel grooves and the interconnecting ducts or passages during the starting interval, the accumulations of carbonized material are materially lessened and the cleaning of fuel grooves and passages is required to be performed less often. Furthermore, such deposit of carbon as may take place occurs in locations where it may be readily removed.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this object is had by providing a relatively wide fiow plate in close adjacent heat-conducting relation to the fuel space. The fuel supply is connected to cause the liquid fuel to travel over this heated flow plate in a relatively thin film and for a substantial distance before reaching the fuel space under conditions most effective for vaporizing the liquid, any portion of the fuel vaporized through contact with the plate, however, passing directly and without hindrance to the fuel space.

The invention also has for its object the simplified construction of burners of the type referred to and an arrangement such that the surfaces requiring to be cleaned can be readily uncovered and exposed.

These and other objects of the. invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration showing one specific embodiment thereof, while itss-cope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a burner embodying one form of the invention, the perforated walls for the combustion chambers and the cover plate supporting the inner chimney being partly broken away to better show the construction of the base member;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line Z -.2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing and to the embodiment of the invention which is submitted for illustrative purposes, the burner is provided with a base member I comprising a casting having an outer annular plate 3 and an inner annular concentric plate 5 connected one to the other by a series of webs 1, herein four in number, and providing for an annular air admission space 9 between the plates.

The inner plate 5 is provided with a central air admission opening I l surrounded by an upturned, ring-like flange l3, the outer edge of the inner plate 5 having also an upturned, ring-like flange l5 spaced from but concentric with the flange I3.

The flanges l3 and I5, together with the bottom plate 5, form a relatively wide annular compartment or channel, on the bottom of which there is provided a raised arc-shaped lip l1 separating the compartment into an outer fuel space defined by the groove 19 and an inner vaporizing space having a preferably relatively wide, flow plate bottom 2| (Fig. 1). The fuel supply is delivered to the bottom of the vaporizing space by the pipe connection 23 through an opening 25 in the bottom of the flow plate. The raised lip H, which separates the vaporizing space and flow plate from the fuel groove, constitutes a baflle which prevents direct travel of the liquid fuel from the fuel supply opening 25 into the fuel groove, but preferably permitting its flow thereto by a more or less prolonged path. For this purpose it is extended for a substantial distance at either side of the fuel supply opening 25, and herein to a point nearly 180 degrees away, where it is cut away at 21 to leave a free, unobstructed flow passage from the plate to the fuel groove through which any portion of the fuel remaining in liquid form may flow into the fuel groove without hindrance or the building up of any accumulated body of liquid on the flow plate.

The top of the vaporizing chamber is closed, except for the direct escape of vaporized fuel to the combustion chamber, by a removable annular cover plate 29 seated on the upper edge of the flange l3 and provided with a downwardly extending sleeve 3| which fits within the flange and positions the cover plate thereon. The walls of the cover plate extend outwardly and herein also downwardly over the vaporizing compartment and the annular lip, but are spaced vertically from the latter to provide an annular passage from the vaporizing compartment to the fuel space and combustion chamber sothat any vaporized fuel may pass directly over the lip between the latter and the cover plate into the fuel groove and combustion chamber.

While the annular passage indicated may be of uniform cross-sectional area, herein the lip I1 is shown of slightly decreasing height (Fig. 2) from a point adjacent the fuel supply passage 25 to the flow passage or opening 21, so that the annular passage between the vaporizing and combustion chambers is of increasing cross-sectional area from the point where the fuel is delivered to a point at the flow passage 21 where only liquid fuel may pass into the fuel groove.

The peripheral edges of the cover plate are spaced from the inner walls of the flange IE to provide an annular space through which the fuel space opens into the combustion chamber, and is provided with an upturned annular flange 33 within which there is-secured a perforated sheet metal cylinder 35. A similar but larger concentric cylinder 31 is removably seated on the out r shouldered edge of the upright flange I5, so that there is provided between the two cylinders the combustion chamber 39 opening at the bottom into the fuel space l9. It will be understood that the perforations in the sheet metal cylinders are distributed throughout substantially the entire surface thereof, a small perforatedarea only being shown in Fig. 2. It will also be understood that these perforations may be of any shape, size or arrangement to provide suitable air admission openings for the combustion chambers.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention there is also provided an outer fuel groove 4| formed between the upright annular spaced concentric flanges 43 and 45 on the outer plate 3. Concentric spaced perforated sheet metal cylinders 41 and 49 are removably seated on the shouldered edges of the flanges 43 and 45 providing between them the combustion chamber 51. The outer fuel groove 4| is connected to the inner fuel groove l9 by means of the supply ducts 53 (Figs. 1 and 3) formed in the webs 1.

A removable annular cover plate 55 is provided with its edges resting upon the tops of the sheet metal cylinders 31 and 49 to close the top of the annular air space therebetween, and a diskshaped closure plate 51 with its edges resting on the upper edges of the cylinder 35 is similarly provided to close the top of the central air chamber, leaving annular openings at the tops of the two combustion chambers 5| and 39 for the escape of the products of combustion. The closure plates 55 and 51 may, if desired, be provided with one or more apertures to permit the partial escape of the air therethrough.

In the operation of the burner, the latter is preliminarily heated either by igniting asbestos Wicks (not herein shown) positioned in the fuel grooves and saturated with oil admitted through the supply pipe 23, or in any other desired manner. After the burner has been preliminarily heated, liquid fuel is then admitted through the supply pipe 23 under the regulation of any of the usual feeding devices. These commonly provide for the flow of fuel from the feeding device at some definite level, which may be accurately regulated, so that the flow of fuel may be maintained at a predetermined level over the flow plate, and a flow maintained of relatively shallow depth spreading over the flow plate in more or less film-like form. Such regulating devices are of the usual and common construction and are not herein shown. 7

The liquid fuel on leaving the supply passage 25 is caused to pass over the flow plate and to travel entirely around the same to the passage 21 before it is allowed to enter the fuel groove in liquid form. The flow plate is in close heat-conducting relation to the fuel groove so that the heat from the flame maintained in the fuel groove is transmitted directly thereto and is effective for vaporizing the liquid fuel in its passage over the flow plate. Any vaporized fuel passes directly up over the lip ll into the fuel space and combustion chamber, where it mingles with the air and is immediately effective for promoting the combustion therein and raising the temperature of the burner and of the flow plate itself. This process quickly builds up the intensity of the flame and accelerates the temperature rise of the base member, so that a point is very soon established where all'the liquid fuel delivered to the flow plate is vaporized before reaching the gate or passage 21 and all of it is delivered to the fuel "outer side-of the trough;

'2. A burner comprising an annular spaeein the form of vaporized oil, The full capja ity of the burn "i's th'fb -quick-ly-"est b lijs d, the 'starting -finterva ry mater ially red n arid the' amourifidf liquid oil 'reahi'n'g" the in er' and -outerful groove subjc pletef combustion is'a1so materially reduced--- ""Thecyl nderBf is preferably held fixed on the c erjplat'eZSQas by a close frictional fit thereQn, s t at it may be utilized-"to lift the plate from the'flange I31 By removing the'-"ooverp1ate and the cylinders 31, n and l'a'jthe top'of'the entire opened and both the inner "and outer fuel es maybe readily inspected and cleaned, as well as the connecting ducts or'passages-sa For" simplicity, a single bu'rner unit only is show but the-same constructional features may be'e'rribodied in one or'mor'e duplicate-units, the generallyf annular base' membe'rl I i being connected to the co'rresponding' bas member: of the other 'unit or units by 'webs integrally cast there'- With orby o ther conne ctions; I 1

While we have herein" shown and described for the purpose of illustration one specific embodimerit of the invention, it is to be understood t'hat the latter'is not limited to the specific details of cohstruction and relative "arrangement herein shown, but that extensive deviations" may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of-j einvention." w we claim:

1L"A' burner comprising an annular trough body having alkzeiitr'alopening therethrough and having a dividing wall/the latter'comprising'a raised arc shaped' lip forming" inner and' outer channels'; fuel" supplymeans communicating with the i'r'i'rier'channel backof 'sai'd arc-shaped lip, an annular cover plate having aporti'on'"closely interfitting' with and "supported by 'theinrier wall of'said'trough and having 'a'fiange'overlying the inner channel in spaced relatibn to the bottom wall of said inner channel andto the dividing wall to" form a rela'tiv-ely*na1'row opening therebetween, "a fo'ra-minate chimney erected-oIr-a'nd supported 'by' the overhanging peripheral edge :of the-flange,

and a second foraminate chimney erected at the troughshaped' body having '-a*- central "opening therein and having adividing wall forming innerand outer channels; fuel supp-1y means communicating with the inner-channel back of said dividing wall, the latter having a relativelyremote passage forthe flow'ofliquid fuel from theinner tothe outer channel, an annular coverplate-having a formation closely interfitting with and supported by the inner wall of said 'trough andhaving' a flange overlyingthe inner channel in spaced relation to the bottomwall of said inner channel and to the dividing wall to form a-relativelynarrow opening ther'ebetween, a foraminate-chimney erected "on and supported 'by 'the overhanging peripheral 'edge of the flange; and a second 'f oraminate chimney erected at the outer-side'of the trough. 1 =1" w 3 burner of the class described having spaced,concentric, tubular wall 'members providing b'etweenthem a combustion' chamben aoottom plate'ha-ving spaced inner and-outer concentric fl anges presenting between them-abroad annular channehsaid plate having asupply opening within 'said inner'fiange, a removable cover plate supported by and presenting 'a formation closely interfitting with said inner flange and having an air opening cooperatively related to the opening-in said bottom plate, said cover plate overlying said channel in spaced relation to the walls I of said bottom platetand having: its router p'e'ripheral edges "spaced' from said -outer flange to' pr'ovide an" uncovered portion for said chann'el' s'ubstantiall-y aligned with said combustion 5 chamber', theinner one of said tubular members b'ei'ng 'suppb'rtedlby the peripheral edge of said cover plateia fuel supply'opening in the bottom of-said channel;- abarrier between said fuel supply openin'g' and 'saidiiuncover'ed portion of the channel permitting the direct passage thereto of vapcrized fuel, and a'flow passage around said 1 barrierrelatively'remote from said fuel opening.

45A liquid fuel burner having concentric. com-' bustion tubes formingxinner and outer combustion chambers, 'a base having upstanding walls providing an inner; relatively wide, annular, fuel chamber and a separate laterally spaced-outer, relatively narrow, annular open, fuel chamber surrounding said inner chamber and beneath go and opening into. the'outer combustion chamber, said base having an air passage between the chambers and also-within the innerchamber, ducts connecting said-inner and outer chambers,

a removable annular cover plate resting on said base and having its walls extending outwardly over said inner chamber from the inner wall thereof and extending also downwardly but having-its periphery spaced from the opposite upstanding wall'of said chamber and from the underlying Walls of the base to partially cover saidchamber', providing an inner vaporizing space beneath? the cover plate and an uncovered fuel space beneath and communicating with the inner combustion chamben'said cover plate having means' adjaoent its periphery to support andpositiona combustion tube, and means forintroducing fuel from below to the bottom of said covered vaporizing space, said inner fuel-chamber being formed to impede the flow ofunvaporized liquid fuel from said vaporizing. space m, to said uncovered fuel space while permitting the free passage of vaporized fuel thereto.

5. A liquidfuel burnerhaving'combustion tubes forming inner and outer combustion chambers,

a base having an inner, relatively.broad, .con-c -tinuous, fuel chamber. and. a separate, laterally spaced, open, outer, relatively narrow, continuous, fuel chamber surroundin said inner chamber and beneath and opening into the outer combus- -tion chamber, ductsiconnecting said inner and outer chambers, a covering wall extending over one side of said inner chamber but having its overhanging. edges spaced from the opposite side of said chamber and from the underlying walls 5 of the base to partially cover said chamber, pro-,,

Viding-thereina vaporizing space beneath the fuel thereto.

6. A liquid fuel burner having combustion tubes forming inner and outer combustion chambers, a base having an inner, relatively broad, continuous, fuel chamber and a separate, later- 7 ally spaced, open, outer, relatively narrow, continuous fuel chamber surrounding said inner chamberand beneath and opening into the .outer "combustion chamber, ducts connecting said inner and outer chambers, a covering wall extend- "covered fuel space to impede the flow of unvapo'r ized liquid fuel from said vaporizing space to said uncovered fuel space while permitting the free passage of vaporized fuel thereto.

7. A liquid fuel burner having a plurality of combustion tubes forming between them a combustion chamber and an inner air chamber within the inner tube, a base having a broad, horizontally arranged, endless, fuel channel with an air admission opening within the inner wall thereof, a removable covering wall having a for mation closely interfitting with the inner wall of said channel extending from the inner side of said fuel channel but having its peripheral edges spaced from the outer side thereof and from the underlying walls of the base to partially cover said channel and presenting a formation interfitting with and supporting the inner combustion tube, providing therein a vaporizing space beneath the covering wall and beneath the inner fair chamber but leaving an uncovered vapor-dls= tributing space beneath but communicating with the combustion chamber and surrounding the vaporizing space, means for introducing liquid fuel from below to the bottom of said covered vaporizing space, and means to impede the direct flow of liquid fuel from the fuel introducing means in the vaporizing space to the vapor-distributing space while permitting the free passage 'of vaporized fuel thereto.

8. A burner of the class described having pairs of concentric, spaced, combustion tubes forming between them inner and outer combustion chambers and providing an intermediate air chamber between said combustion chambers and an inner air chamber within the inner tube, a base surmounted by said combustion tubes and having openings for admitting air to said air chambers, said base presenting laterally spaced, interconnected, open, vapor distributing channels terminating in upwardly directed delivery portions one surrounding the other, said portions being beneath and registering one with the outer and the other with the inner combustion chambers and opening into said air chambers, one of said channels being of greater width than the other channel to form a vaporizing portion positioned laterally within and communicating with the delivery portion of said wide channel and extending beneath one of said air chambers, a removable plate resting on the walls of the base to overlie a part of the wider channel, said plate covering said vaporizing portion and underlying said last-named air chamber and exposed to the heat tubes forming inner and outer combustion chain bers, a base having an inner, relatively broad, continuous, fuel chamber and a separate, laterally spaced, open, outer, relatively narrow, con tinuous fuel chamber surrounding said inner chamber and beneath and opening into the outer combustion chamber, ducts connecting said inner and outer chambers, a covering wall extending over one side of said inner chamber but hav-- ing its overhanging edges spaced from the opposite side of said chamber and from the underlying walls of the base to partially cover said chamber, providing therein a vaporizing space beneath the covering wall but leaving an uncovered fuel space beneath and communicating with the inner combustion chamber, means for introducing fuel from below to the bottom of said vaporizing space, and a raised wall on the bottom of the inner chamber between the fuel introducing means and the uncovered fuel space and having 7 an opening at the opposite side of said inner chamber from the fuel introducing means to impede the flow of unvaporized liquid fuel from said vaporizing space to said uncovered fuel space, while permitting the free passage of vaporized fuel thereto.

10. A burner comprising an annular trough body having a central opening therethrough and having a low dividing wall forming inner and outer channels, a fuel supply means communicating with the inner channel, an annular baffie member having a base snugly fitting within the opening through the trough and having a flange overlying the inner channel in closely space relation to the dividing Wall to form a narrow 1 opening therebetw'een, a foraminate chimney erected on the peripheral edge of the flange, and a second foraminate chimney erected at the outer side of the trough.

11. In combination, an oil vapor burner, a base member, concentric inner and outer flanges forming an annular channel on the base member, an oil supply pipe terminating near the inner flange of said channel, and a removable cover plate resting upon the innermost flange, the said cover plate extending towards, but terminating short of said outer flange and having a depending flange at its outer edge extending nearly to the bottom of said channel, thereby providing a vaporizing chamber under said plate, and an outlet for fuel vapor therefrom.

12. A burner having a base member provided with concentric, inner and outer raised walls forming an annular channel and providing an air admission opening within the inner wall of said channel, a removable annular cover plate resting on the inner wall of said channel, said plate extending toward but terminating short of the outer wall of said channel to leave an uncovered portion thereat while providing a vaporizing space beneath said plate, said plate further having a depending outer portion extending below the upper edges of said raised channel-forming Walls, there being provided a restricted outlet for the fuel vapor from said vaporizing space to said uncovered portion, a foraminate chimney positioned on the outer portion of said cover plate, a second foraminate chimney positioned on the outer wall of said trough, and a liquid fuel supply inlet near the inner part of said channel to supply liquid fuel beneath said cover plate.

13. A burner having a base member provided with concentric, inner and outer raised walls forming an annular channel and providing an air admission opening within the inner wall of said channel, a removable annular cover plate resting on the inner wall of said channel, said plate extending toward but terminating short of the outer wall of said channel to leave an uncovered portion thereat while providing a vaporizing space beneath said plate, said plate further having a depending outer portion, a raised wall on the bottom of said channel cooperating with said depending portion of the cover plate to provide a restricted outlet for the fuel vapor from said vaporizing space to said uncovered portion, a foraminate chimney positioned on the outer portion of said cover plate, a second foraminate chimney positioned on the outer wall of said trough, and a liquid fuel supply inlet near the inner part of said channel to supply liquid fuel beneath said cover platev 14. A liquid fuel burner having spaced, concentric, combustion tubes forming inner and outer combustion chambers with an intermediate air chamber and an inner air chamber enclosed within the inner tube, a base surmounted by said combustion tube and comprising an inner, radially broad, annular, base portion and an outer, relatively narrow, base portion spaced from and surrounding said inner base portion and having connections thereto at intervals, said base having openings between said connections for supplying air to said intermediate air chamber and an opening within said inner base portion for supplying air to said inner air chamber, said inner and outer base portions having vaporizing and distributing passages including annular, inner and outer, vapor distributing portions in said respective base portions, beneath and opening into said inner and outer combustion chambers, respectively, and said connections having ducts connecting said vapor distributing portions, said vaporizing and distributing passages including also an open vaporizing portion in said broad, annular, base portion and communicating with said vapor distributing portions, a removable cover plate resting on said base beneath said inner air chamber and exposed to the heat from the walls thereof, said plate covering said open vaporizing portion to form therewith a vaporizing chamber but leaving uncovered the vapor distributing portion communicating with said inner 20 combustion chamber, a raised ported wall on the bottom of the broad, inner base portion between the vaporizing chamber and the vapor distributing portion for the inner combustion chamber,

and means to introduce liquid fuel to said vapor- 23 izing chamber.

RALLSTON M. SHERMAN. FREDERICK F. NEUMANN. 

